Metal frame construction



Nov. 2, 1954 -.J. T. BoNGlovANNl- METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23. 1949 'iillllllfll 1N V EN TOR.v

Nov. 2, 1954 J. T. BoNGlovANNl 2,693,257

METAL FRAM; coNTRucTIoN Filed Sept. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vlliiill INVENToR.

United States Patent O METAL FRAME CONSTRUCTION Joseph Thomas Bongiovanni, Rocky Point, N. Y. Application September 23, 1949, Serial No. 117,370

9 Claims. (Cl. 189-75) This invention relates to a building construction and more especially to a wall structure and a metal frame for a window or door opening in such Wall structure of the building. The invention particularly relates to a metal window or door frame for a wall structure in which a brick or similar veneer provides an outer facing in the wall about the window or door opening.

Metal window or door frames, for the most part in combination with metal sash or doors, heretofore have been utilized extensively in both solid brick and solid masonry structures. More recently they have been used also in so-called frame constructions utilizing struc-y `tural members of wood or similar materials penetrable by fasteners, such as nails. Ordinarily frame constructions may be built at less cost than structures of solid brick or concrete. In order to provide such frame buildings with the exterior appearance and texture of the wall afforded by a solid brick or other masonry construction and at the same time to increase the insulation of the exterior walls of theframe construction, veneers of brick or similar masonry elements have been combined with the exterior walls of the frame construction.

In such brick veneer constructions, in order to provide the desired insulation and, as well, to minimize or prevent access of moisture absorbed by the brick to the wood or similar structural members which might cause dry rot or otherwise damage the frame construction and the interior finish of the wall, it is common practice to space the brick veneer from the frame structure exteriorly thereof. To this end spacers, ordinarily in the form of wood strips, are fastened to the exterior face of the frame Wall structure adjacent the window and door openings for bearing of the window and door frames thereon. The strips may be fastened to the exterior face of the conventional sheathing members, such as boards of wood or other materials supported by the studs and other framing members of the frame wall structure. These spacing strips may be applied over a building paper which in accordance with common practice is att? hed to the exterior surface of the sheathing.

In order to close the space between` the brick veneer may bear when such metal frames are used in the type f of structure being described. Such surrounds may serve also to provide a trim around the metal frame but they have the disadvantage that they are exposed to the weather and that the joints between them and the metal Vframe as well as between the brick veneer and the'metal frame must be caulked with mastic or similar material and may not remain weather-tight because of shrinkage of the surround. Moreover, in keeping with the character of a solid brick wall constructionv it is desirable that the brick veneer be brought closely adjacent 2,693,257 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 crate directly with the metalframe to secure weathertightness.v

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal window or door frame for use lin brick veneer constructions Which, while adapted to be positioned in proper relation to the brick veneer and to the frame wall structure,

,makes unnecessary the conventional spacing strips.

It is a feature of the invention that the metal frame,

r'which otherwise may be of usual form and constructed with conventional framing elements, such as Z bars, itself is provided with a spacing means adapted to cooperate with the exterior face of the frame wall structure or a member thereof to position the metal frame in the required spaced relation to the frame wall outwardly thereof. Preferably the spacing device of the metal frame of the invention is adapted to bear against the outer surface of the conventional sheathing members which are fastened at the exterior faces of the studding and similar structural members of the frame structure of the wall. Where, as is usual, the metal window or door frame is formed with a flange, for example, the ange of l,a Z bar providing a framing element thereof, a lug may be formed from the material of the flange of such framing element, this lug being bent transversely of the flange so that the end thereof may be brought into engagement with the exterior surface of the sheathing or, if desired, with-another outwardly disposed surface, for

example, the face of a supporting stud which is adjacent the window or door opening. It will be understood that the framing elements of the metal window or door frame may be of other sections than Z bar sections which provide portions overlapping the wall adjacent the window or door opening and are adapted to carry a sash in weather-tight relation thereto.

When the metal frame is fastened in position in the opening of the wall structure by suitable means the brick veneer in the usual spaced relation to the frame wall structure may be lcarried over upon the laterally extending flange of the metal window or door frame in the approved manner for brick wall construction. Preferably for the purposes of the invention the metal window or door frame is formed of framing elements, such as Z ".bars, having a wide flangeproviding for considerable lap of the brick veneer upon this ange. without encroaching thereon to the extent of approachlng the web of such framing element of the window or door frame. The brick veneer around the window or door thus may be kept back suiciently to expose the surface of the metal frame suiciently to give the proper architectural effect as well as to provide proper clearance between a window or door hinged or otherwise supported within the opening of the metal window or door frame.

, Other objects and features of the invention will be understood more clearly from the description to follow f of the drawings in which:

to the metal frame of the window or door openingso as to Fig. l shows in elevation a metal window frame constructed according to the invention and supported in a brick veneer wall construction;

Fig. 2 shows a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; 1

Fig. 4rv shows in perspective a detail of the metal fram and spacing means of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a modification.

ln Fig. l a metal Window frame is supported within the opening formed by the vertical studs 3 and 4 at either side of the opening which in the conventional manner are fastened together to reenforce the structure adjacent the window opening. At the head of the frame 1 the two wood framing members 5 and 6 are cut in vbetween the studs 3 and are fastened together and to studs 3, 4 to form a strong structure at the head of the opening. At the bottom of the opening the members 7 and 8 are similarly cut in between the studs 3 and are fastened Y together and to the vertical studs 3, 4. Fastened upon the studs 3, 4, S, 6, 7 and 3 and other framing members are the sheathing members 9, which, for example, may be of wood boards as in the conventional frame house construction, the ends and edges of the boards being cut flush with these members to leave the window opening as 4vsheathing` paper 11 may lbe applied to the boards 9 as in conventional frame constructions.

In .the`particularembodiment of Eigs. l, 2 and 3 the 'nfletal'frame 1 is constructed .withframing 'elements-of Z r`-bar section providing" innery flanges 13v androuter -1anges *15 extending laterally from the web 17. `iThe"-ange:15

in this embodiment is .wider than, the flange 13 `aridi-has "'su'ch a width that it extends-a substantial-distancejin'over- `lapping relation upon the sheathing-membersf9. and'upon "the studsxand"framingymernbers v3, 6 arid.8.v In the; park"ticular embodiment rshown -in-Figs. 1,' 2 and 3,the metal frame` 1-A is constructedgsothat lthe Webs '17 thereof' lie dsomewhatwithin'the inner faces19,` 20, 21 and22 ofthe yopening "while, providing the requisite overlapping t rela- 'tion of the flange 15 upon the sheathing. boards 9 and the `structural'members 53, '-6 4andf'S.

"Thenmetal frame ll'is provided withjspacing'flugs "25 lwhich inthe embodimentbeing-described yare formed by makingyincisions Vin theflange 15' along thelines 27, 28, tFigs. land 4, and ybending the portionof 4the ange'15 'thus-severed ,at right angles to the plane of the flange 15. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the length 4of the 'incision along #the lines 27 may besuch as to determine the length of the lugs-25 vin thevdirection transversely of the flange from the outer face thereof to thefaceoffthe sheathing 'elements 9. Thus the frame 1 may -besupported in the window opening withthe ends of thelugs 25 bearing -drectly upon the sheathing boards or the sheathing paper 111 carried thereby.

1In order to hold the frame 1 in position in this relation tothesheathing boards 9, the flange'lS has formedtherein -holes 29, Fig. 4, adjacent and directlybehind the lugs 25 as shown torreceive a nail 31 or similar fastening which is'passed through the hole 29 and is `adapted to enter'the framing members 3, passing alsothrough the sheathing elements 9 in the embodiment of Figs. `1,'2 Aand'. In the particular metal windowframeshown in "-Fig. l thevertical side elements thereof have three lugs formed therein and threeholes respectively adjacentlthese lugs. Inwindow frames of ordinary size,-two orv three such lugs ,and the corresponding fasteners or nails may be #utilized at each side securely tov support the window frame fin-position, no lugs or fasteners being requiredin the -Huppcr andlower frame elements. Such' lugs andffasten- 'ers,`ho wever, may be formed in these upper and lower t frame elements if desired orrequired in order -to obtain f secure fastening of the window frame to the wall structure.

For the purposes of theinvention, in window frames :of ordinary size the framing elements thereof maybe Aformed, for example, witha Zbar section having a idi- 'mension of one inch between the outer face-of the'ange -15and the corresponding face of the `flange 13, this jdimension representing the overall thickness of the frame. "The Iwidth ofthe flange 13 may be approximately one -inch andthe width of the flange 15 may be approximately voneinch and a half transversely of the web 17 of the Z bar. The thickness ofthe-web 17 Vandof the'l'langes 13 l-an'd 15 may gbe approximately one-eighth of an'inch. l`These dimensions, however, mayvary withdiiferent constructions of the window frame and with different di- ``rnen'sions of `the window opening in -which'the frame is disposed.

If, in the construction shown'in the drawings, the metal frame'is'constructed with such `dimensions that the web 117 thereof-is'spaced approximatelyve eighths fofs an 4inch from respectiveadjacentffaces 19,"20, '21 and 22 of the structural members 3, 6 and 8 o'ffthe wall, Vthe ange 15 will overlap theedgeof the sheathingh elements :9 and the structural members 3, 6 and 8 approximately :gthree quartersof Van inch. The nail or similarifastener, :.thereforefmay be driven into the structural Amember :generally centrall-y thereof and this-nail may` have suli- :oientlengthgand diameter securely -to hold the frame 1 Einf-position. When ordinary wire nails are usedas fas- -vteners thehole 29 may be approximately three sixteenths vsofaninch in diameter to receive an eight-penny or a aten-penny nail,'such a nail being of sufficient length and `:'ri-gidityto extend across the space between the flange tlSfand the sheathingboards and well into the structural =members.13, "6, 8 and securely to hold thewindowframe .against the face of the frame wall structure and'topreykvent lateral movement of the metal window-frame.

Where, as in the construction. shown in Fig f3, 'the x"framelis of such-size that-a'space 'isleftbetween the 14 web 17 and the adjacent faces of the structural members 3, 6,8, this space may be lled in any convenient manner with packing material, such as mineral wool, to restrict or prevent movement of air into and out of the space 33 between the brick veneer 35 and the paper 11 on sheathing boards 9. As shown in the drawing the brick veneer 35 is positionedso,that the inner face 37 of this veneer bears upon the outer face of the flange 15 in overlapping relation ,andsothatz .the end face V3-9 of the brick veneer in 'the particular embodiment illustrated is substantially `in lline withV the faces of the lstructural ,members 3, 6, 8, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The amount of overlap of ,thenbrick veneer upongthefiangel. mayfbevaried, however, to secure ample surface `contact between the veneer and theilangeftorestrict orfprevent entrance of air and water into the space 33. If necessary to secure a weather-tightness the corner formed between the face 39 of the brick veneer and the outer face of the ange 115 may ybe caulke'd#witl1 suitable' mastic Lor other -caulking .mensions of the metalframe-flwmay be variedso that the rib .14 of theZ.-bar whererthe flange 13..joinsthe web 117 may: be brought into. engagement with-the yend ,edge ofthe sheathing boardsz9 to provide resistance to or to prevent passage -ofJair intosfandout of:the-space33 ipast fthe frame.

vThezlugl, ifI desired, may be vformed*Withincthe-area Nofathe ilanger15 instead of along ktheedge thereof in order that-.this lug shall bear upon the faceof the .sheathing zboardsx9 v atornadjacent Vastud .when the flange 15 is in greater. overlapping "relationa to v .the .sheathing boards, .and

studs than ;that-.shown, forexample, ,in.;Fig. l3. yIt also .willbe understood-,that .the ll11g:25.fmay be'formed las Vshown in the drawingszand, in order to Amaintain-the ,f fastening 31 ;in4 proper-fi 'position generally vcentrally @with respect to` .-a stud when .theflange 1Sy -is Wider-.prille metal frameis larger, lthe hole29 maybe disposed -nearerf-.the

vrvveb .17 of the..Z -bar framing member, that; is,;foriex ample, toward the right of its position; as shown :ini Fig. rv4.

In the emodiiication -shown .in `Fig. l.5,-the 4sheathing -boards 9 do not extend so as lto bellushwith thegface 19 of thestud3. 1The lug 25 in `this embodimentis made .of -suchlength asvto Abear `.against theouter face y41 of thestud 3 andto pass by the end edge, of l.the sheathing ,boards A9. The .length ofthe Alug25 maybe such.as.to ymaintainthey desired widthof the air space 33. between the brick veneer 35 land the paper 11 onsheathingiboards .9. I Inthe embodiment of Fig. 5 the frame 1 is constructed in themannerreferredto above andthe/.web `is of .such `depththat the web.17 is closely` adjacent the facez19-l of the stud.`3 land the rib 43 conventionally formedimthe .2..barsection inthe. plane -of the flange 13 bears `against fthe face 19 of the stud 3. to.close thespace'33. In. the

particular embodiment of Fig. V5.the flangelissomewhat shorter ,than the ange 15 of `themetal frameelement shown in Fig. l, 'the' lug ,25.andjthenail'lbeing generally centrally positioned with respectto the stud 3 as inthe embodiment of Fig. 3. The sheathing rboards,

however, may becut so as `tolapuponthe studs 3,4 to

any suitabledegree andthegflangel' Vthen maybe made of greater or less length tobring the-lug 25. intoproper bearingrelation `tothe studs 3, 4. ,The,nail.=31..and..the

hole 29. in the ange'.15 through whichthenail Vis passed may remain in the position; shown withrespectto the web 17 so that thishole becomespositioned,towardkthe vright of the lug2.5 inthe manner referred .to above,

therebymaintainingthe nail in position for good. fastening inthe stud 3.

Other ,variations in the form, :dimensions and relations of Athe metal frame tothe structural. membersa-nd to the sheathing as well as to the brick veneer andin the dimensions and the position of the'lug, 25 and of the "hole 29 may be madewithin the scope. of the-invention structure of said buildingproviding-an outwardly ,dis-

posed face of said wall structure adjacenta Windowor Vdoor opening of saidstructure said brick veneer being `supported in spaced relationtoaid,' faCe-Ofsaid wall structure outwardly thereof adjacent said .Window ondoor opening of said structure, of a metal frame 'for said window or door opening, saidl frame having a flange extending generally parallel to said face of said wall strpcture in overlapping relation thereto and in spaced rela tion thereto outwardly thereof, a lug carried by said flange and projecting therefrom transversely thereof toward said face of said wall structure with the end of said lug in engagement with said face to determine said spacing of said flange of said metal frame from said face of said wall structure, said brick veneer being supported in lapping relation upon the exterior of said flange of said metal frame.

2. ln a building construction having an outer facing of brick or similar veneer, the combination with members of a wall structure of said building disposed adjacent opposite sides of a window or door opening of said structure, said members being of wood or similar penetrable material and providing an outwardly disposed face of said wall structure adjacent said window or door opening of said structure, of a metal frame for said window or door opening, said frame having flanges at said opposite sides of said opening extending generally parallel to said face of said wall structure in overlapping relation thereto and in spaced relation thereto outwardly thereof, said flanges being provided with lugs spaced along said flanges and projecting therefrom transversely thereof toward said face of said Wall structure and bearing endwise against said face of said'structure to determine the spaced relation of said flanges of said metal frame from said face of said wall structure, said flanges being provided with apertures therethrough respectively adjacent said lugs, and fasteners passing through said apertures and penetrating said members to hold said frame in position in said opening with said lugs bearing against said face of said wall structure and with said flanges of said metal frame in said spaced relation thereto, said brick veneer being supported in lapping relation upon the exterior of said flange and said fasteners.

3. In a frame building construction, the combination with a stud of a wall structure of said building adjacent a Window or door opening, sheathing boards fas tened upon said stud to provide the outwardly disposed closure elements of said wall structure and providing an exterior face thereof adjacent said window or door opening, of a metal frame disposed in said window or door opening and having a flange extending generally parallel to said face of said Wall structure adjacent said stud in overlapping relation thereto and in spaced relation outwardly with respect to said face of said sheathing boards, said flange being provided with a lug formed of a portion of said flange and projecting therefrom transversely thereof toward said sheathing boards with the end of said lug engaging said face of said boards to determine said spacing of said flange of said metal frame from said face of said boards, said flange being provided with an aperture therethrough adjacent said lug, and a nail passing through said aperture and across the space between said flange and said face of said sheathing boards and entering said stud to fasten said frame to said structure with said flange spaced by said lug from said face of said boards.

4. In a frame building construction, the combination with studs of a wall structure of said building adjacent a window or door opening, sheathing boards fastened upon said studs to provide the outwardly disposed closure ele-y ments of said wall structure and providing an exterior face of said wall adjacent said window or door opening, of a metal frame disposed in said window or door opening having a flange extending generally parallel to said face of said wall structure in overlapping relation to a stud thereof and in spaced relation outwardly with respect to said face of said sheathing boards, said flange being provided with a lug formed of a portion of said flange and projecting therefrom transversely thereof toward said face of said Wall structure with the end of said lng engaging said stud adjacent said window or door opening to determine the spacing of said flange of said metal frame from said face of said boards, and means cooperan ing with said flange and said stud to hold said metal frame in position in said Window or door opening with said lug engaging said stud.

5. In a building construction, the combination with a wall structure of said building providing an outwardly disposed face thereof adjacent a window or door opening in said structure, of a metal frame for said window or door opening constructed with an elongated framing element having a flange overlapping said face of said structure and extending lengthwise of said element in a plane generally parallel to said face of the wall structure and with its length generally parallel to a side of said Window or door opening, and a lug carried by said flange of said framing element and projecting from said flange transversely of the plane of said flange in endwise engagement with said face of said wall structure and providing a spacer spacing said flange from said face of said wall structure, the dimension of said lug parallel to the length of said framing element along said side of said Window or door opening being of the degree of the thickness of said flange, the dimension of said lug transversely of said length of said element in the plane of thc flange being sufficient in relation to said first dimension of said lug to define said lug as said spacer.

6. In a building construction the combination as defined in claim 5 in which said framing element comprises a web disposed in a plane transverse to said plane of said flange and joined to said flange adjacent the edge of said flange opposite to the edge of said flange which overlaps said face of said wall structure, said web extending along the length of said framing element and having a dimension transverse to said length thereof in the plane of said web extending substantially across said space between said flange of said framing element and said face of said wall structure.

7. A metal frame for a window or door opening constructed with an elongated framing element having a flange extending lengthwise of said element in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said frame and so as to be disposed with the length of said element generally parallel to a side of said window or door opening and With said flange in overlapping relation to an outwardly disposed face of a wall structure extending about said window or door opening when said frame is in position in said opening. and a lug carried by said flange and projecting from said flange transversely of the plane of said frame and adapted to engage in endwise engagement said outwardly disposed face of said wall structure and providing a spacer to dispose said flange in spaced generally parallel relation to said face of said wall structure, the dimension of said lug parallel to the length of said framing element being of the degree of the thickness of said flange, the dimension of said lug transversely of the length of said element in the plane of the flange being suflicient in relation to said first dimension of said lug to define said lug as said spacer.

8. A metal frame for a window or door opening as defined in claim 7 in which said flange of said framing element is formed of bendable material, said lug being provided by a portion of said flange defined by an incision in said flange generally parallel to the length of said framing element and by an incision transversely of and adjacent one end of said first incision and extending from said first incision to the edge of the flange adapted to overlap said face of said structure, said portion being bent into and disposed in position with its length transverse to said plane of said flange to provide said spacer spacing said flange from said face of the wall structure when the end of said lug bears against said face of said structure, the width of said lug between the first incision and said overlapping edge of the flange being substantially less than the width of said flange tranverse to its length in said plane of the flange to maintain unsevered a substantial part of said flange.

9. A metal frame for a window or door opening as defined in claim 7 in which said framing element comprises a web disposed in a plane transverse to said plane of said flange and joined to said flange adjacent the edge of said flange opposite to said edge thereof adapted to overlap said face of said wall structure, said web extending along the length of said framing element and having a dimension transverse to said length thereof in the plane of the web suflicient to provide a substantial rigid framing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,564 Jenkins May 8, 1928 1,703,566 Baum Feb. 26, 1929 1,879,005 Andersen Sept. 22, 1932 2,050,322 Hills Aug. 11, 1936 2,282,061 Jasper-son May 5, 1942 2,508,781 Bailey .et al. May 23, 19,50 

